Systems and methods of managing the capacity of attended delivery/pickup locations

ABSTRACT

A computer system for routing parcels to attended delivery/pickup locations (e.g., other than an individual&#39;s home and/or office) based on estimating the attended delivery/pickup location&#39;s capacity is disclosed. The computer system receives capacity information associated with the attended delivery/pickup location and characteristics of one or more parcels an individual wishes to be delivered to the attended deliver location. The system, based at least in part on the received information, determines whether the attended delivery/pickup location will have the capacity to store the one or more parcels associated with the individual. The system then routes the one or more parcels either to the attended delivery/pickup location (if there is capacity) or to an alternative delivery/pickup location (if there is not capacity).

CLAIM OF PRIORITY

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 61/791,008, filed Mar. 15, 2013, entitled, “Systems andMethods of Delivering Parcels Using Attended Delivery Locations,” andU.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/777,968, filed Mar. 12, 2013,entitled “Systems and Methods of Delivering Parcels Using AttendedDelivery Locations,” both of which are incorporated herein by referencein their entirety.

BACKGROUND

An increase in Internet commerce has led to an increase in the number ofparcels delivered to individual homes. However, this rise in “homedelivery” is not always convenient for individuals or logisticscompanies. It may be desirable to deliver parcels to alternativedelivery locations (e.g., locations other than an individual's home orbusiness). However, it can be difficult to determine whether particularalternative delivery locations are available to receive and distributeparcels. Various embodiments of the present systems and methodsrecognize and address the foregoing considerations, and others, of priorart systems and methods.

SUMMARY

In various embodiments, a computer system including at least oneprocessor is configured for: 1) receiving capacity informationassociated with a first attended delivery/pickup location, where: a) thefirst attended delivery/pickup location is a location, other than aresidence or employer associated with a first parcel recipient andincludes a storage area including a volume for storing at least oneaccepted parcel; and b) the capacity information includes a total volumeof the storage area for storing one or more accepted parcels; 2)determining an estimated average storage time for an average parcelstored at the first attended delivery/pickup location; 3) receivingfirst delivery information associated with one or more parcelsassociated with the first parcel recipient, wherein the first deliveryinformation includes: a) a first estimated time of delivery associatedwith the one or more parcels associated with the first parcel recipient;and b) a first indication of the first parcel recipient to pick up theone or more parcels at the first attended delivery/pickup location; 4)estimating the capacity of the first attended delivery/pickup locationat the estimated time of delivery of the one or more parcels based atleast in part on: a) the capacity information associated with the firstattended delivery/pickup location; and b) the estimated storage time forthe average parcel stored at the first attended delivery/pickuplocation; 5) determining whether the first attended delivery/pickuplocation will have sufficient capacity to receive the one or moreparcels associated with the first parcel recipient at the estimated timeof delivery based at least in part the estimated capacity of the firstattended delivery/pickup location. In particular embodiments, thecomputer system is further configured for: 1) at least partially inresponse to determining that the first attended delivery/pickup locationwill not have sufficient capacity to receive the one or more parcelsassociated with the first parcel recipient at the estimated time ofdelivery, facilitating routing the one or more parcels associated withthe first parcel recipient to a first alternative attendeddelivery/pickup location, wherein the first alternate attendeddelivery/pickup location comprises an alternate attended delivery/pickuplocation within a network of attended delivery/pickup locations; and 2)at least partially in response to determining that the particulardelivery/pickup location will have sufficient capacity to receive theone or more parcels associated with the first parcel recipient at theestimated time of delivery, facilitating routing the one or more parcelsassociated with the first parcel recipient to the first attendeddelivery/pickup location.

It should be understood, in light of this disclosure, that the abovesteps may also be completed by, in various embodiments, acomputer-implemented method, by at least one processor, and/or anon-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer readableinstructions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various embodiments of a system and method for delivering parcels toattended delivery/pickup locations are described below. In the course ofthis description, reference will be made to the accompanying drawings,which are not necessarily drawn to scale, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a logistics system in accordance with anembodiment of the present system;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a computer, such as the logisticsserver of FIG. 1, that is suitable for use in various embodiments;

FIG. 3 depicts a flowchart that generally illustrates various stepsexecuted by a parcel delivery module that, for example, may be executedby the logistics server of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 depicts a flowchart that generally illustrates various stepsexecuted by a capacity determination module that, for example, may beexecuted by the logistics server of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 5 is a transportation diagram depicting exemplary transportationpaths that may be taken by parcels that are delivered to attendeddelivery/pickup locations according to various embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Various embodiments now will be described more fully hereinafter withreference to the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that theinvention may be embodied in many different forms and should not beconstrued as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Like numbersrefer to like elements throughout.

Overview

Logistics networks, according to various embodiments, use attendedpickup and delivery locations to facilitate: (1) the convenient deliveryof parcels and other items to individuals; and/or (2) the convenientpickup of parcels and other items from individuals who wish to sendthose items to others via a common carrier. In various embodiments,existing retail businesses may be used as suitable delivery/pickuplocations. For example, a gas station, a convenience store, a flowershop, a magazine stand, a retail location associated with a commoncarrier, a kiosk at a mall, or a retail department store may enter intoan agreement with a common carrier to accept deliveries of parcels(and/or other items) that are to be picked up later, at a convenienttime, by the intended recipient of the parcels or other items. Theretail location may also agree to serve as a drop-off point for parcelsand/or other items that are to be delivered to another location by thecarrier.

In certain embodiments, each attended delivery/pickup location is mannedfor at least some time during the week and is equipped with a computersystem that is adapted to communicate both with: (1) one or morecomputer systems associated with the common carrier; (2) one or morecomputing devices associated with the sender of the parcel; and (3) oneor more computing devices associated with the recipient of the parcel.An example of a suitable computer system is shown in FIG. 1 and isdescribed in greater technical detail at the end of this document.

In particular embodiments, a computer at the attended delivery/pickuplocation (e.g., an “attended delivery/pickup location computer”) isadapted to send suitable messages regarding the status of parcelshandled by the attended delivery/pickup location. For example, when theattended delivery/pickup location receives a parcel, the attendeddelivery/pickup location computer may automatically transmit an e-mail,text, or other message to: (1) the common carrier's computer system; (2)the recipient's computing device; and/or (3) the sender's computingdevice indicating that the parcel has been received by the attendeddelivery/pickup location and is ready to be picked up by the recipient.The message may also include other suitable information, such as thename and location of the attended delivery/pickup location, the days andhours of operation of the attended delivery/pickup location, and thedeadline by which the individual must retrieve the parcel before, forexample: (1) the item is returned to the sender; or (2) the recipient ischarged for late pickup of the item.

The attended delivery/pickup location may also automatically transmit ane-mail, text, or other message to: (1) the common carrier's computersystem; (2) the recipient's computing device; (3) the sender's computingdevice; and/or (4) any other suitable computer in response to anysuitable event including, for example: (1) the parcel being picked up bythe individual; (2) the parcel being returned to the carrier after atime period for retrieving the parcel has passed; (3) the parcel beingtransferred to another attended delivery/pickup location; or (4) anyother suitable event.

In various embodiments, the system may be configured to facilitate thedelivery of parcels directly to attended delivery/pickup locations from,for example, e-commerce retailers from which users may order items fordelivery. For example, the system may be configured to allow a usermaking purchases of items via the Internet to have those items delivereddirectly to attended delivery/pickup locations. In such embodiments, aswell as in other embodiments, the system may be configured to presentusers with a selection of attended delivery/pickup locations for itemsthat the user orders.

In particular embodiments, the system may be configured to present userswith attended delivery/pickup location options based at least in part onany of the following: (1) a location of the user's home; (2) a locationof the user's place of work; (3) any location specified by the user(e.g., such as a location that the user frequently visits); and/or (4)any other suitable metric for determining an appropriate selection ofattended delivery/pickup locations to present to the user. In variousembodiments, the system may be configured to provide a selection ofattended delivery/pickup locations that are: (1) within a particulardistance of any of the locations described above; (2) open (e.g., areavailable for picking up parcels) at a time convenient to the user; (3)have certain hours of operation; and/or (4) any other factor that may bebeneficial to the user or common carrier in dropping off or picking upparcels from attended delivery/pickup locations.

In various embodiments, the system is configured to confirm whether anattended delivery/pickup location has capacity to accept a parcel beforedirecting (e.g., or redirecting) a parcel to the attendeddelivery/pickup location or before presenting the alternate location asa potential delivery/pickup location to a customer. This may include,for example, ensuring that there is enough physical space at theattended delivery/pickup location to accept the parcel or suitablesystems in place at the attended delivery/pickup location to accommodateany special handling instructions that the parcel containing the itemmay have (e.g., a requirement to store the parcel at a particulartemperature). In such embodiments, the system may be further configuredto substantially automatically (e.g., automatically) reserve space atthe attended delivery/pickup location for the parcel to ensure that theattended delivery/pickup location will not lose capacity to accept theparcel before the parcel arrives.

In a particular example, the system is configured to compare theestimated capacity of an attended delivery/pickup location with anestimated volume of one or more parcels associated with the parcelrecipient (e.g., a user) that are to be delivered to the attendeddelivery/pickup location. Continuing with this example, if the estimatedvolume of the one or more parcels (e.g., 1000 cubic inches) exceeds theestimated capacity of the attended delivery/pickup location (e.g., 500cubic inches) at the estimated time the one or more parcels are expectedto be delivered, the system will determine, in this example, that theattended delivery/pickup location will not have sufficient capacity toaccept the one or more parcels associated with the parcel recipient.

The use of such attended delivery/pickup locations may have a variety ofdifferent advantages. First, in certain situations, the recipient of aparcel may not typically be home when parcels are commonly delivered. Insuch situations, it may be useful to have the parcels delivered to anattended location where an individual is available to accept and/or signfor a particular parcel and maintain the parcel in a safe location untilthe recipient is available to pick up the parcel. As another example, anindividual may prefer to have personal deliveries made close to, but notto, their workplace so that they can retrieve the parcels when they areat work. Shipping items directly to attended delivery/pickup locationsmay also provide a cost savings to common carriers and other shippingand/or logistics companies by avoiding the need to deliver parcels andother items to the home addresses of individual parcel recipients.Rather, the common carriers can deliver parcels to several attendeddelivery/pickup locations that service a particular area where parcelrecipients can go to collect their parcels.

Various additional implementations of attended delivery/pickup locationsare described below, after a brief discussion of exemplary technicalplatforms and computer system architecture that may be used, forexample, in implementing various aspects of this concept.

Exemplary Technical Platforms

As will be appreciated by one skilled in the relevant field, the presentinvention may be, for example, embodied as a computer system, a method,or a computer program product. Accordingly, various embodiments may takethe form of an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely softwareembodiment, or an embodiment combining software and hardware aspects.Furthermore, particular embodiments may take the form of a computerprogram product stored on a computer-readable storage medium havingcomputer-readable instructions (e.g., software) embodied in the storagemedium. Various embodiments may take the form of web-implementedcomputer software. Any suitable computer-readable storage medium may beutilized including, for example, hard disks, compact disks, DVDs,optical storage devices, and/or magnetic storage devices.

Various embodiments are described below with reference to block diagramsand flowchart illustrations of methods, apparatuses (e.g., systems), andcomputer program products. It should be understood that each block ofthe block diagrams and flowchart illustrations, and combinations ofblocks in the block diagrams and flowchart illustrations, respectively,can be implemented by a computer executing computer programinstructions. These computer program instructions may be loaded onto ageneral purpose computer, special purpose computer, or otherprogrammable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, such thatthe instructions that execute on the computer or other programmable dataprocessing apparatus create means for implementing the functionsspecified in the flowchart block or blocks.

These computer program instructions may also be stored in acomputer-readable memory that can direct a computer or otherprogrammable data processing apparatus to function in a particularmanner such that the instructions stored in the computer-readable memoryproduce an article of manufacture that is configured for implementingthe function specified in the flowchart block or blocks. The computerprogram instructions may also be loaded onto a computer or otherprogrammable data processing apparatus to cause a series of operationalsteps to be performed on the computer or other programmable apparatus toproduce a computer implemented process such that the instructions thatexecute on the computer or other programmable apparatus provide stepsfor implementing the functions specified in the flowchart block orblocks.

Accordingly, blocks of the block diagrams and flowchart illustrationssupport combinations of mechanisms for performing the specifiedfunctions, combinations of steps for performing the specified functions,and program instructions for performing the specified functions. Itshould also be understood that each block of the block diagrams andflowchart illustrations, and combinations of blocks in the blockdiagrams and flowchart illustrations, can be implemented by specialpurpose hardware-based computer systems that perform the specifiedfunctions or steps, or combinations of special purpose hardware andother hardware executing appropriate computer instructions.

Example System Architecture

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a System 110 according to a particularembodiment. As may be understood from this figure, the System 110includes one or more Computer Networks 115, a Logistics Server 100, aDatabase 140, and one or more computing devices such as a RemoteComputing Device 152 (e.g., such as a smart phone, a tablet computer, awearable computing device, a laptop computer, etc.) and/or a DesktopComputer 154. In particular embodiments, the one or more ComputerNetworks 115 facilitate communication between the Logistics Server 100,Database 140, and one or more Computing Devices 152, 154.

The one or more Computer Networks 115 may include any of a variety oftypes of wired or wireless computer networks such as the Internet, aprivate intranet, a mesh network, a public switch telephone network(PSTN), or any other type of network (e.g., a network that usesBluetooth or near field communications to facilitate communicationbetween computers). The communication link between the Logistics Server100 and the Database 140 may be, for example, implemented via a LocalArea Network (LAN) or via the Internet.

FIG. 2 illustrates a diagrammatic representation, in variousembodiments, of the architecture of the Computer 120 that can be usedwithin the System 110, for example, as a client computer (e.g., one ofClient Computers 152, 154 shown in FIG. 1), or as a server computer(e.g., Logistics Server 100 shown in FIG. 1). In particular embodiments,the architecture of the Computer 120 may be suitable for use as acomputer within the context of the System 110 that is configured tofacilitate the delivery of parcels to attended delivery/pickup locationsor facilitate the receipt and/or processing of parcels once they aredelivered to the attended delivery/pickup locations.

In particular embodiments, the Computer 120 may be connected (e.g.,networked) to other computers in a LAN, an intranet, an extranet, and/orthe Internet. As noted above, the Computer 120 may operate in thecapacity of a server, a client computer in a client-server networkenvironment, and/or as a peer computer in a peer-to-peer (ordistributed) network environment. The Computer 120 may be a desktoppersonal computer (PC), a tablet PC, a set-top box (STB), a PersonalDigital Assistant (PDA), a cellular telephone, a web appliance, aserver, a network router, a switch or bridge, or any other computercapable of executing a set of instructions (sequential or otherwise)that specify actions to be taken by that computer. Further, while only asingle computer is illustrated, the term “computer” shall also be takento include any collection of computers that individually or jointlyexecute a set (or multiple sets) of instructions to perform any one ormore of the methodologies discussed herein.

An exemplary Computer 120 includes a Processor 202, a Main Memory 204(e.g., read-only memory (ROM), flash memory, dynamic random accessmemory (DRAM) such as synchronous DRAM (SDRAM) or Rambus DRAM (RDRAM),etc.), a Static Memory 206 (e.g., flash memory, static random accessmemory (SRAM), etc.), and a Data Storage Device 218, which communicatewith each other via a Bus 232.

The Processor 202 represents one or more general-purpose processors suchas a microprocessor, a central processing unit, or the like. Moreparticularly, the Processor 202 may be a complex instruction setcomputing (CISC) microprocessor, reduced instruction set computing(RISC) microprocessor, very long instruction word (VLIW) microprocessor,processor implementing other instruction sets, or processorsimplementing a combination of instruction sets. The Processor 202 mayalso be one or more special-purpose processors such as an applicationspecific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array(FPGA), a digital signal processor (DSP), a network processor, or thelike. The Processor 202 may be configured to execute Processing Logic226 for performing various operations and steps discussed herein.

The Computer 120 may further include a Network Interface Device 208. TheComputer 120 also may include a Video Display Unit 210 (e.g., a liquidcrystal display (LCD) or a cathode ray tube (CRT)), an AlphanumericInput Device 212 (e.g., a keyboard), a Cursor Control Device 214 (e.g.,a mouse), and a Signal Generation Device 216 (e.g., a speaker).

The Data Storage Device 218 may include a Machine-Accessible StorageMedium 230 (also known as a non-transitory computer-readable storagemedium or a non-transitory computer-readable medium) on which is storedone or more sets of instructions (e.g., Software 222) embodying any oneor more of the methodologies or functions described herein. The Software222 may also reside, completely or at least partially, within the MainMemory 204 and/or within the Processor 202 during execution thereof bythe Computer 120—the Main Memory 204 and the Processor 202 alsoconstituting computer-accessible storage media. The Software 222 mayfurther be transmitted or received over a Network 115 via a NetworkInterface Device 208.

The Software 222 may represent any number of program modules, including,but not limited to an operating system (not shown), a Parcel DeliveryModule 300, and an Capacity Determination Module 400. For simplicity andbrevity, these modules are merely exemplary and may represent a numberof program modules that control certain aspects of the operation of theComputer 120. The Parcel Delivery Module 300 and the CapacityDetermination Module 400 are described in more detail below.

While the Machine-Accessible Storage Medium 230 is shown in an exemplaryembodiment to be a single medium, the term “computer-accessible storagemedium” should be understood to include a single medium or multiplemedia (e.g., a centralized or distributed database, and/or associatedcaches and servers) that store the one or more sets of instructions. Theterm “computer-accessible storage medium” should also be understood toinclude any medium that is capable of storing, encoding or carrying aset of instructions for execution by the computer and that cause thecomputer to perform any one or more of the methodologies of the presentinvention. The term “computer-accessible storage medium” shouldaccordingly be understood to include, but not be limited to, solid-statememories, optical and magnetic media, etc.

Exemplary System Platform

Various embodiments of a system for delivering parcels to attendeddelivery/pickup locations may be implemented within the context of anysuitable logistics service. For example, particular embodiments may beimplemented within the context of any suitable logistics service offeredby United Parcel Service, Inc. of Atlanta, Ga. Various aspects of thesystem's functionality may be executed by certain system modules,including a Parcel Delivery Module 300. This module is discussed ingreater detail below.

Parcel Delivery Module

FIG. 3 is a flow chart of operations performed by an exemplary ParcelDelivery Module 300. In particular embodiments, the Parcel DeliveryModule 300 may facilitate the delivery of parcels to an attendeddelivery/pickup location.

When executing the Parcel Delivery Module 300, the system begins, atStep 310, by displaying one or more attended delivery/pickup locationsto a user. In various embodiments, these attended delivery/pickuplocations include retail stores (e.g., including gas stations, grocerystores, and pharmacies), stand-alone kiosks, or any other suitablelocations for receiving and holding parcels for pick up by recipients.In particular embodiments, attended delivery/pickup locations includeattended delivery/pickup locations, but they may also include unattendeddelivery/pickup locations. In some embodiments, attended delivery/pickuplocations may include locations (e.g., retail locations) other than theintended parcel recipient's home or business.

In various embodiments, the system may configured to determine anddisplay available attended delivery/pickup locations based on anysuitable criteria. For example, the system may be adapted to: (1) allowa user to request that the system display all attended delivery/pickuplocations within a predetermined radius of the user; and (2) in responseto the request, displaying all attended delivery/pickup locations withinthe predetermined radius of the user. In another embodiment, the systemmay be adapted to: (1) determine a location that a user is frequentlylocated (e.g., the user's home or workplace); and (2) displaying allattended delivery/pickup locations within the predetermined radius ofthe location.

In particular embodiments, the system may be adapted to allow a vendoror other entity to open one or more attended delivery/pickup locationsfor a particular customer or event. In other embodiments, the system maybe adapted to allow a vendor (e.g., a particular retailer) to select asubgroup of a group of available attended delivery/pickup locations thatthe vendor's products may be delivered to, and/or to exclude a subgroupof available delivery/pickup locations for delivery of the vendor'sproducts. This feature may be particularly desirable for vendors whohave a certain brand image that is inconsistent with the image ofcertain attended delivery/pickup locations (e.g., a high-end jewelryretailer may not wish to have their products picked up at a gas station,but may be happy to have their products picked up at a high-enddepartment store).

The system continues, at Step 320, by receiving a request from the userto deliver a parcel to a particular one of the one or more attendeddelivery/pickup locations (which may, for example, have no formalrelationship to the user). In particular embodiments, the request maycome from the user after the user reviews a plurality of availableattended delivery/pickup locations (see Step 310, above) as part of acheckout process when the user purchases an item from an online retailstore.

The system continues, at Step 330, by facilitating the delivery of theparcel from an origin location to the attended delivery/pickup location.The origin location may include a home of the parcel sender, a warehouseassociated with an online retailer, a retail store, or any othersuitable location. In various embodiments, the system may facilitate thedelivery of the parcel via any suitable common carrier or otherlogistics provider, etc.

In various embodiments, a system for delivering parcels to attendeddelivery/pickup locations may comprise features in addition to thesystem described above. These additional features are described morefully below.

A. Use of Attended Delivery/Pickup Locations within Brick-and-MortarStores

In various embodiments, an attended delivery/pickup location may beprovided within a brick-and-mortar store, such as a department store,and used to facilitate the provision of adequate inventory to the store.The attended delivery/pickup location may be staffed by a third party(e.g., by an entity other than the brick-and-mortar store), or by thebrick-and-mortar store itself.

In a particular embodiment, a separate attended delivery/pickup locationis provided in each individual store within a network of departmentstores (or within a network of otherwise unaffiliated department storesor other stores). In various embodiments, the attended delivery/pickuplocations are used to facilitate the transfer of items between thestores (or the purchase of one or more items from the inventory ofanother, unrelated store). In a particular example, a customer may visita first department store location within a network of department stores(e.g., a brick and mortar “ABC Shoes” location in Marietta, Ga.), try ona particular pair of shoes in size 10.5, and determine that theyactually need a size 11 in the shoes. If the Marietta location of ABCShoes does not have the shoes in size 11, employees of the store maysearch nearby ABC Shoes locations (and/or the inventory of other shoestores) to determine whether a nearby store has the shoes in size 11.Upon determining that another store has the shoes in the desired size,an employee of the Marietta store may use their computer to issue arequest to the identified store (e.g. an ABC Shoes store in Alpharetta,Ga., or an XYZ store in Macon, Ga.) to send a pair of appropriate size11 shoes to the Marietta ABC Shoes location.

In response to receiving the request, an employee at the Alpharetta ABCShoes location may bring a box containing a size 11 pair of the shoes toan attended delivery/pickup location within the Alpharetta ABC Shoes.Representatives of the attended delivery/pickup location then facilitatethe delivery of the shoes from the Alpharetta ABC Shoes store to theMarietta ABC Shoes store. In particular embodiments, this may reduce theoverall cost of transporting the shoes from the first retail location tothe second retail location because the carrier that services theattended delivery/pickup locations within the first and second retaillocations may deliver items in bulk from the first location to thesecond location on a regular basis. The items may be, for example,transported together in a single container and/or transported directlyfrom the first retail location to the second location, which may serveto reduce the per-item costs associated with transporting the items.

In various embodiments, when a particular item sought by a customershopping at a particular retail store is unavailable (e.g., such as theshoes in size 11 in the example described above), the customer mayrequest to have the item sent to an attended delivery/pickup locationother than the attended delivery/pickup location at the particularretail store. In the size 11 shoe example above, the customer would beable to request to have the shoes sent to an attended delivery/pickuplocation other than the attended delivery/pickup location at the ABCShoes in Marietta. The user may, for example, request to have the shoesdelivered to an attended delivery/pickup location that is convenient tothe user (e.g., such as an attended delivery/pickup location locatednear the customer's home or office).

In-store attended delivery/pickup locations may also be used inrestocking the store's inventory from one or more warehouses (or otherstores in the store's network of stores, which may include stores thatare otherwise unrelated to the store). In particular embodiments, acarrier associated with the attended delivery/pickup locationscoordinates regular shipments (e.g., bulk shipments) from eachparticular warehouse to each particular department store location. Invarious embodiments, new inventory is received at the store by workerswho are associated with the attended delivery/pickup locations. Theworkers then coordinate the transfer of the items to store employees forstocking.

In various embodiments, in-store attended delivery/pickup locations mayalso be used to facilitate the return of items purchased from a retailweb site that is: (1) associated with the department store in which theattended delivery/pickup location is located; and/or (2) not associatedwith the department store in which the attended/delivery/pickup locationis located. For example, in a particular embodiment, an in-storeattended delivery/pickup location within a particular BIG DEALSdepartment store may be set up to accept returns of items purchased fromwww.Big Deals.com. In such cases, if a user purchases an item fromwww.Big Deals.com and wishes to return it, they may simply bring theitem to the in-store attended delivery/pickup location within theirlocal Big Deals department store and receive a refund for the item. Inparticular embodiments, there is no shipping charge (or other charge)associated with returning the item.

As another example, an in-store attended delivery/pickup location withina particular “Big Deals” department store may be set up to acceptreturns of items purchased from a retail web site that is unrelated toBig Deals. For example, the in-store attended delivery/pickup locationmay be set up to accept returns of items purchased from a retail website called www.bestbargain.com. In a particular embodiment, if the userpurchases an item from www.bestbargain.com and wishes to return it, theymay bring the item to the in-store attended delivery/pickup locationwithin their local Big Deals department store and receive a refund forthe item. In particular embodiments, there is no shipping charge (orother charge) associated with returning the item.

In various other embodiments, the attended delivery/pickup location, thelogistics company shipping the returned item, and/or the retail web siteto which an item is being returned may charge the customer for returningthe item. In particular embodiments, the return charge may be sharedamong one or more of: (1) the attended delivery/pickup location; (2) thelogistics company shipping the returned item; (3) and/or the retail website to which the item is being returned. In other embodiments, thereturn charge less the cost of shipping the item back to the retailwebsite is shared rather than the full return charge. In otherembodiments, the return charge may be shared among one or more of theattended delivery/pickup location, the logistics company shipping thereturned item, and/or the retail web site to which an item the beingreturned in disproportionate quantities (e.g., 50% to the logisticscompany, 25% to the retail website, and 25% to the attendeddelivery/pickup location).

In particular embodiments, an in-store, attended delivery/pickuplocation within a particular brick-and-mortar store may be set up to:(1) receive items purchased at the store from users; and (2) ship theitems to a location designated by the user (e.g., to the user'sresidential or business address, or to the address of anotherindividual). In particular embodiments, the individual may: (1) not becharged for shipping the item; (2) be charged a discounted fee forshipping the item; or (3) may be charged the full fee for shipping theitem. In various embodiments, the charge associated with shipping theitem may depend upon the cost of the items (e.g., the customer mayreceive free or discounted shipping of purchases above a pre-determinedthreshold cost). In other embodiments, individuals who are members of aparticular shipping subscription service may receive free or discountedshipping of items purchased at the retail location.

B. Customization of Networks of Attended Delivery/Pickup Locations

In various embodiments, the system may be adapted to allow users todefine their own network of attended delivery/pickup locations. Forexample, a central logistics computer system (which a user may, forexample, access via the Internet) may be configured to displayrespective graphical representations of a plurality of attendeddelivery/pickup locations on a map of an area associated with aparticular user (e.g., a map of an area in which the user's home orbusiness is located). The system may allow the user to select one ormore attended delivery/pickup locations displayed by the graphical userinterface as the default delivery/pickup locations to which any parcelsto be delivered to the user by a particular logistics provider are to bedelivered. For example, the user may select: (1) a first of the attendeddelivery/pickup locations as a primary attended delivery/pickup locationthat the logistics provider should deliver any of the user's parcels to,if the attended delivery/pickup location is available; and (2) one ormore alternative attended delivery/pickup locations that the logisticsprovider should deliver any of the user's parcels to, if the primaryattended delivery/pickup location is unavailable.

In various embodiments, if a particular delivery/pickup location becomesunavailable to accept deliveries during a particular period of time(e.g., the delivery/pickup location becomes full, or temporarily orpermanently closes), the system may modify the graphical representationof the particular delivery/pickup location to indicate itsunavailability. For example, the system may display one or more portionsof the graphical representation of the particular delivery/pickuplocation in gray rather than black to indicate its currentunavailability to accept packages.

C. Economic Models Associated with Holding Items for Pickup

In particular embodiments, the system may be configured for, in responseto a parcel being delivered to a particular delivery/pickup location,generating an e-mail to the recipient of the parcel indicating adeadline by which the recipient must retrieve the parcel from thedelivery/pickup location. In particular embodiments, the system savesthis deadline to memory and, in response to the deadline passing withoutthe system receiving an indication that the parcel has been picked upfrom the delivery/pickup location by the deadline, the systemfacilitates the return of the parcel from the delivery/pickup locationto the parcel's sender. In various embodiments, the system facilitatesthe parcel's return by transmitting a message to an appropriatelogistics server instructing a logistics provider to pick the parcel upfrom the delivery/pickup location and return the parcel to the parcel'ssender.

In order to encourage customers to retrieve parcels before the stateddeadline, the system may be adapted to provide one or more financialincentives for the parcel recipient retrieving the parcel by an earlypickup deadline that is before the stated normal parcel pickup deadline.For example, the system may be adapted to provide the customer with afree or discounted future logistics service (or other financialincentive) in response to the user retrieving their parcel more than aday before the stated normal parcel pickup deadline. Similarly, thesystem may be adapted to allow users to extend the deadline by, forexample, paying a fee to extend the deadline.

D. Method of Allowing Individuals to Coordinate Delivery of an Item toan Attended Delivery/Pickup Location via a Non-Participating Website

In particular embodiments, the system may be adapted to allow a user tofacilitate the delivery of an item ordered on a retail website to aparticular attended delivery/pickup location. In a particularembodiment, the system first provides the user with an addressassociated with a particular logistics provider, as well as a code(e.g., a unique code) associated with the user. When the user completesan order of an item on a retail website, the user enters thelogistics-provider-designated address in the delivery address field onthe retail website, along with the code associated with the user.

As a result, when the retailer sends the item to the user in a parcel,the retailer attaches a shipping label to the parcel that includes thelogistics-provider-designated address and user code. The parcel is thenshipped to the logistics-provider-designated address by any suitablelogistics provider (which may or may not be the particular logisticsprovider referenced above). Once the particular logistics providerreceives the parcel at the logistics-provider-designated address, theparticular logistics provider reads the user code and uses the user codeto retrieve delivery information associated with the user from a datastore, such as a database. The delivery information may include, forexample, the user's name, contact information (e.g., e-mail address,cell phone number, etc. . . . ), and the address of the user's preferredattended delivery/pickup location.

The logistics provider may then: (1) facilitate the delivery of theparcel to the user's preferred attended delivery/pickup location (orother suitable attended delivery/pickup location); and (2) use theuser's contact information to contact the user and inform them that theparcel will be delivered to the attended delivery/pickup location andprovide them with instructions for retrieving the parcel. In aparticular embodiment, the logistics provider may facilitate thedelivery of the parcel to the user's preferred attended delivery/pickuplocation by relabeling the parcel with the user's name and address ofthe attended delivery/pickup location.

In alternative embodiments, the system may be adapted so that when theuser completes an order of an item on the retail website, the usersimply enters a code associated with the user and selects a particularlogistics provider to handle delivery of the item to the user. Invarious embodiments, the logistics provider uses the code to retrieveuser and delivery information in the manner described above. Thelogistics provider then uses the user and delivery information tofacilitate delivery of the item to the user.

E. Systems for Facilitating Proper Handling of Parcels at an AttendedDelivery/Pickup Location

In various embodiments, the system may be adapted to remind individualsat each attended delivery/pickup location to enter informationassociated with parcels into the system as the parcels arrive at theattended delivery/pickup location. For example, the system may beadapted to display a reminder message at predetermined times during eachwork day that reminds users to use a bar code scanner associated withthe system to scan the labels of any parcels that arrive at the attendeddelivery/pickup location. In other embodiments, the system may beadapted to display such reminders around times that parcels arescheduled to arrive at the attended delivery/pickup location. This mayhelp to assure that information regarding each parcel is promptlyentered into the system.

In particular embodiments, the system may be adapted for receivinginformation regarding the scheduled closure of each attendeddelivery/pickup location (e.g., holiday closures or permanent closures).The system may further be configured for: (1) communicating thisinformation to users; (2) facilitating the rerouting of any parcels thatare scheduled to be delivered to the attended delivery/pickup locationwhile the attended delivery/pickup location is scheduled to be closed;and/or (3) removing the attended delivery/pickup location as an optionfor receiving deliveries while the attended delivery/pickup location isscheduled to be closed.

The system may also be adapted to employ various techniques fordetermining that a particular parcel has been delivered to a particularattended delivery/pickup location. For example, the system may beadapted to: (1) receive an indication that a particular parcel has beenscanned at drop off; (2) receive data regarding the location at whichthe parcel was scanned at drop off (e.g., using GPS functionalityassociated with a handheld device or other electronic device); (3)compare the location with the geolocations of one or more attendeddelivery/pickup locations; and (4) in response to determining that thelocation at which the parcel was scanned at least generally correspondsto the geolocation of a particular attended delivery/pickup location,verify that the parcel has been delivered to the particular attendeddelivery/pickup location; and (5) save an indication to the system'smemory indicating that the parcel has been delivered to the particularattended delivery/pickup location. In various embodiments, the system isfurther adapted to send confirmation (e.g., via e-mail, text message,etc.) to a recipient of the delivery of the particular parcel at leastpartially in response to verifying that the parcel has been delivered tothe particular attended delivery/pickup location. In particularembodiments, the system is further adapted to send a request forconfirmation of delivery to the attended delivery/pickup location and toreceive such confirmation.

F. Systems for Facilitating Signature of Documents at AttendedDelivery/Pickup Locations

In various embodiments, attended delivery/pickup locations may beconfigured to manage the signature of documents, such as contracts andother legal documents. In a particular embodiment, to facilitate thesignature of a contract, a first individual may send the document to aparticular attended delivery/pickup location to be signed by a secondindividual. The delivery of the document to the attended delivery/pickuplocation may be facilitated as outlined above, and—when the documentarrives at the particular attended delivery/pickup location, the systemmay notify the second individual that the document has arrived andprovide instructions for the second individual to come to the particularattended delivery/pickup location and sign the document.

The second individual may then travel to the particular attendeddelivery/pickup location and, after providing identification (e.g., inthe form of an ID card or a code displayed on the individual's mobilecomputing device) to a representative of the attended delivery/pickuplocation, sign the contract. The representative may then verify, in anysuitable manner that the contract has been signed by the correctindividual. For example, the representative may notarize the documentand/or enter information into a data store associated with the systemconfirming that the contract has been signed by the correct individual.The representative may also create an electronic copy of the documentand save the signed document into the system's memory for laterretrieval and/or electronic transmission to the first and secondindividuals. Finally, the system and/or representative may coordinatethe return of the original signed document to the first or secondindividual for their files.

In various embodiments, the document to be signed may include a uniquebar code that is used to identify the document, track the document,and/or store the document in memory. In various embodiments, the uniquebarcode may be used to identify the document as well as the one or moresignors of the document.

G. Provision of Value-Added Services at Attended Delivery/PickupLocations

In particular embodiments, representatives at attended delivery/pickuplocations may provide one or more value-added services on parcels and/oritems at the attended delivery/pickup locations. This may occur, forexample, as items and/or parcels are being returned for a refund, orsimply shipped to another location. For example, the representativesmay: (1) pack the items for shipping; (2) gift wrap the items; (3)facilitate the return of items to a retailer for a refund or exchange(see below); and/or (4) complete any other value-added service.

H. Use of Attended Delivery/Pickup Locations within Shopping Centers

A further use of attended delivery/pickup locations involves providingone or more attended delivery/pickup locations within a shopping center(e.g., a mall). In a particular embodiment the attended delivery/pickuplocations are configured to: (1) receive items purchased at the shoppingcenter from users; and (2) ship the items to a location designated bythe user (e.g., to the user's residential or business address, to anattended delivery/pickup location close to the user's residential orbusiness address, and/or to another address designated by the user).This may allow a user to purchase items at the shopping center and thenfacilitate transporting the purchased items to the user's home oranother location without the hassle of leaving the shopping center withthe items, transporting the items, etc. . . .

I. Capacity Management Techniques

In particular embodiments, a computer system may be used to estimate thecurrent and/or future capacity of the attended delivery/pickup locationsto receive and store parcels. This may be done, for example, using aparticular algorithm that assumes, for example, that any parcels will beof a certain average size and will be stored by the attendeddelivery/pickup locations for a certain period of time before beingpicked up by a parcel recipient.

In other embodiments, the system may use more precise methods formonitoring the current and/or future capacity of attendeddelivery/pickup locations to receive and store parcels. For example, thevolume of storage space within each attended delivery/pickup locationmay be stored within the system, and the actual dimensions of eachparcel may also be entered into the system when the parcel is receivedby a logistics company and/or the attended delivery/pickup location. Thesystem may then use this information to: (1) calculate the total volumeof parcels that are being stored, or that will be stored, at aparticular attended delivery/pickup location at a particular time; and(2) estimate the available capacity of the attended delivery/pickuplocation to store additional parcels by comparing the calculated parcelvolume with the volume of storage space at the attended delivery/pickuplocation.

In particular embodiments, the system is adapted to determine that anattended delivery/pickup location is unavailable to accept additionaldeliveries if the estimated volume or number of parcels stored at theattended delivery/pickup location (or to be stored at the attendeddelivery/pickup location) is within a particular predeterminedpercentage of the attended delivery/pickup location's capacity. Forexample, if the attended delivery/pickup location is determined to be at95% maximum capacity, the system may determine that the attendeddelivery/pickup location is unavailable to accept additional deliveries.In such a case, the system may reroute parcels scheduled to be deliveredto the attended delivery/pickup location to an alternative attendeddelivery/pickup location and/or show the attended delivery/pickuplocation as being currently unavailable.

In other embodiments, the system may use one or more of the followingdifferent factors to determine whether a particular attendeddelivery/pickup location has the capacity to accept a particular parcel.Such factors include, for example: (1) the weight of a parcel; (2) thedimensions of the parcel; (3) average latency of parcels at the attendeddelivery/pickup location; (4) one or more characteristics of theparcel's intended recipient (e.g., how quickly the intended recipientusually retrieves parcels from attended delivery/pickup locations); (5)typical characteristics of the clientele of the delivery/pickup location(e.g., how quickly the average customer of the attended delivery/pickuplocation retrieves parcels from the attended delivery/pickup location);(6) the cubic parcel storage capacity of the attended delivery/pickuplocation; (7) the density of the parcel and/or (7) the ability of theattended delivery/pickup location to extend its capacity to acceptparcels. The system may also take into account the amount of laborrequired to physically add the parcel to the current inventory of theattended delivery/pickup location.

Certain embodiments of the system and method described herein aredescribed in further detail below. As shown in FIG. 4, certainembodiments of the Capacity Determination Module 400 are configured todetermine and the capacity of various delivery/pickup locations. TheCapacity Determination Module 400 may operate alone or in combinationwith the one or more other modules to perform the functions shown inFIG. 4. It should be understood by one skilled in the art in light ofthis disclosure that certain embodiments of a Capacity DeterminationModule 400 may perform the functions shown in FIG. 4 in an order otherthan the order shown in FIG. 4. It should also be understood thatvarious systems, when executing a Capacity Determination Module 400 mayomit particular functions or perform additional functions in performingthe functions of the Capacity Determination Module 400.

Exemplary Functionality of the Capacity Determination Module

When executing the Capacity Determination Module 400, the system begins,at Step 402, by receiving capacity information associated with anattended delivery/pickup location. In a particular embodiment, theattended delivery/pickup location is a business that primarily conductsbusiness other than receiving parcels for parcel recipients and is alocation other than the parcel recipient's home or office (e.g., is nota location associated with the parcel recipient's home or businessaddress). In various embodiments, the delivery/pickup location may be,but is not limited to: 1) a retail store; 2) a gas station; 3) a grocerystore; 4) a pharmacy; 5) a stand-alone kiosk; and/or 6) a retail storewithin a mall or shopping center. It should be understood, in light ofthis disclosure, that a delivery/pickup location, in one or moreembodiments, may be one or more delivery/pickup locations.

In various embodiments, a particular delivery/pickup location may havespecial or unique storage suitable for storing one or more parcels thatrequire a specific type of storage. According to particular embodiments,the special or unique storage of a delivery/pickup location may be, forexample, temperature controlled storage.

In a particular example, a gas station has an area for storing coldbeverages. The gas station has extra storage space within the area thatis cooled. In order to generate additional revenue and traffic to theirstore, they have agreed to be part of a network of alternate deliverylocations, and—as part of this arrangement—to accept parcels thatrequire special handling (e.g., parcels that are required to be cooled).

The received capacity information associated with the attendeddelivery/pickup location may include any appropriate information.According to particular embodiments, the capacity information associatedwith the attended delivery/pickup location includes informationassociated with types of parcels the attended delivery/pickup locationmay not accept, such as parcels that are larger than certain dimensions,parcels that are over a certain weight, and/or parcels that are greaterthan a specific density.

In various embodiments, the capacity information includes a total volume(e.g., maximum capacity) of the storage area for storing one or moreaccepted parcels. The total volume of the storage area may be anestimation of the storage capacity or an exact number (e.g., abouttwelve average sized parcels, exactly twelve parcels of a volume of 432cubic inches each, and/or 2000 cubic inches total).

In various embodiments the capacity information includes current usageinformation, where the current usage information includes an indicationof a volume of one or more accepted parcels that are stored (or that areestimated to be stored) at the attended delivery/pickup location at aparticular time. This information may be used, in conjunction with knowncapacity information for that delivery/pickup location, to determine theactual capacity of the delivery/pickup location at the particular time.The indication of the volume of the one or more accepted parcels at theattended delivery/pickup location may be the volume of the one or moreaccepted parcels at any point in time. In various embodiments, theindication of the volume of one or more accepted parcels may be anindication of the number of parcels currently stored at the particulardelivery/pickup location. According to particular embodiments, theindication of the volume the one or more accepted parcels may theestimated volume of parcels that are estimated to be stored at thedelivery/pickup location at the estimated time of delivery of aparticular parcel (or immediately before that time).

According to a particular embodiment, the indication of the volume ofone or more accepted parcels to be delivered to the attendeddelivery/pickup location may be a number of one or more parcels (e.g.,twelve parcels). According to particular embodiments, the indication ofthe volume of one or more accepted parcels may be expressed as a volume(e.g., 1000 cubic inches). In further embodiments, the indication of avolume of one or more accepted parcels may be expressed as how muchcapacity the attended delivery/pickup location has for the one or moreparcels associated with the parcel recipient (e.g., the attendeddelivery/pickup location can accept one or more parcels with a totalvolume up to 500 cubic inches).

At Step 404, the system receives delivery information associated withone or more parcels associated with a parcel recipient. The deliveryinformation may include any suitable information. According toparticular embodiments, the delivery information includes an indicationthat the parcel recipient wishes to pick up the one or more parcels atthe attended delivery/pickup location (e.g., the parcel recipientspecifies the attended delivery/pickup location of a network of attendeddelivery/pickup locations to receive the one or more parcels).

In one or more embodiments, the indication that the parcel recipientwishes to pick up the one or more parcels at the attendeddelivery/pickup location is an indication that the parcel recipientwishes to pick up the one or more parcels in a specific area and thedelivery/pickup location is located in the specific area. In furtherembodiments, the indication of the parcel recipient to pick up the oneor more parcels is an indication that the parcel recipient has specifiedthis specific attended delivery/pickup location.

In various embodiments the delivery information includes an estimatedtime of delivery associated with the one or more parcels associated withthe parcel recipient. According to particular embodiments, the estimatedtime of delivery is a specific date the one or more parcels are expectedto arrive at the attended delivery/pickup location (e.g., July 9th). Inone or more embodiments, the estimated time of delivery may include aspecific time or range of times the one or more parcels may be expectedto arrive at the attended delivery/pickup location (e.g., between 12:00pm and 5:00 pm on July 9th).

In various embodiments, the delivery information includes an estimatedvolume of the one or more parcels associated with the parcel recipient.The estimated volume may be expressed in any suitable way. In variousembodiments, the estimated volume is expressed as a number of parcels tobe delivered (e.g., how many parcels are included with the one or moreparcels of the parcel recipient). In one or more embodiments, theestimated volume is expressed as a volume or estimated volume of the oneor more parcels of the parcel recipient. In further embodiments, theestimated volume is expressed as a number of parcels and an approximatevolume of each parcel. In still further embodiments, the estimatedvolume is expressed by dimensions of the one or more parcels and/ordensity of the one or more parcels. According to particular embodiments,the estimated volume is expressed by category of the parcels (e.g., onelarge parcel, one small parcel, three letters, etc.).

In various embodiments, the delivery information may include any othersuitable information associated with the one or more parcels. In aparticular example, the delivery information may include informationsuch as the one or more parcel's dimensions, weight, and/or density.

The system may be configured to receive the delivery information fromany suitable source. In various embodiments, the system is configured toreceive the delivery information from a client device associated withthe parcel recipient. In a particular embodiment, the system isconfigured to receive the delivery information from one or more thirdparty servers (e.g., one or more servers associated with a retailer). Infurther embodiments, the system is configured to receive the deliveryinformation from one or more servers associated with one or morelogistics companies. In still further embodiments, the system isconfigured to receive the delivery information from one or more servers(or client computers) associated with the attended delivery/pickuplocation.

At Step 406, the system determines an estimated average storage time fora parcel stored at the attended delivery/pickup location. The estimatedaverage storage time for a parcel may be estimated (or calculated) inany suitable way. According to particular embodiments, the averagestorage time for a parcel may be estimated based on the number ofparcels delivered to the attended delivery/pickup location (e.g.,regardless of which parcel recipient ordered the parcel) and the amountof time it takes a parcel recipient (e.g., any parcel recipient) to pickup their respective parcels. For example, in this particular embodiment,the average storage time is estimated by taking the total amount of timefor any parcel recipient to pick up their parcel divided by the totalnumber of pickups for a particular attended delivery/pickup location.

In one or more embodiments, the estimated average storage time iscalculated based on the average storage time for at least one parcelassociated with the parcel recipient, the at least one parcel deliveredto any attended delivery/pickup location (e.g., an average storage timefor all parcels associated with the parcel recipient delivered toany/all attended delivery/pickup locations). In various embodiments, theestimated average storage time is calculated based on the averagestorage time for one or more parcels delivered to the attendeddelivery/pickup location that are associated with the parcel recipient(e.g., only parcels associated with the parcel recipient delivered to aspecific attended delivery/pickup location). In a particular example,the system receives information associated with the number of parcels aparticular parcel recipient has picked up from a particular attendeddelivery/pickup location. In this example, the system also receivesinformation associated with amount of time the parcel recipient took topick up each parcel from the particular attended delivery/pickuplocation. Finally, in this example, the estimated average storage timeis calculated based on the average time the attended delivery/pickuplocation stores a parcel for the parcel recipient (e.g., the estimatedaverage storage time is a total amount of time for the parcel recipientto pick up a parcel or parcels divided by a total of the number ofparcels (or deliveries—if a delivery includes more than one parcel)).

In one or more embodiments, the system may be configured to receive(e.g., opposed to determining) the estimated average storage time for aparcel stored at the attended delivery/pickup location. In variousembodiments, the system receives the estimated average storage time froma computer system (e.g., one or more servers) associated with theattended delivery/pickup location. In particular embodiments, the systemreceives the estimated average storage time from a computer systemassociated with a network of attended delivery/pickup locations (e.g.,one or more servers associated with a central logistics system).

At Step 408, the system estimates the capacity of the attendeddelivery/pickup location (e.g., the capacity to receive the one or moreparcels of Step 404). The system may be configured to estimate thecapacity of the attended delivery/pickup location at any suitable time.In various embodiments, the system is configured to estimate thecapacity of the attended delivery/pickup location at the present time(e.g., the capacity of the attended delivery/pickup location in thepresent). In particular embodiments, the system is configured toestimate the capacity of the attended delivery/pickup location in thefuture (e.g., when the one or more parcels associated with the parcelrecipient are estimated to arrive). In one or more embodiments thesystem may be configured to estimate the capacity of the attendeddelivery/pickup location on an on-going basis (e.g., each time a parcelis scheduled for delivery to the attended delivery/pickup location).

The system may be configured to estimate the capacity of the attendeddelivery/pickup location in any suitable way. It should be understood,in light of this disclosure, that the system may use any properties ofthe storage area and/or of the one or more parcels to estimate capacity,including, but not limited to: volume, dimensions, weight, density, etc.

In various embodiments, the system is configured to estimate thecapacity of the attended delivery/pickup location based at least in parton the capacity information associated with the attended delivery/pickuplocation (e.g., at Step 402). In a particular example, the system isconfigured to use the total volume (e.g., the maximum capacity) of thedelivery/pickup location (e.g., at Step 402) and the volume of one ormore accepted parcels currently stored at the attended delivery/pickuplocation (e.g., at Step 402). Continuing with this example, the systemestimates how much capacity the attended delivery/pickup location hasfor accepting new parcels by subtracting the volume of the one or moreparcels currently stored at the attended delivery/pickup location fromthe total capacity of the attended delivery/pickup location.

According to a particular embodiment, the system is configured toestimate the capacity of the attended delivery/pickup location based atleast in part on the estimated storage time for the average parcelstored at the first attended delivery/pickup location (e.g., at Step406). In this embodiment, the system may be configured to use the totalcapacity of the attended delivery/pickup location (See Step 402), thevolume of the one or more parcels currently stored at the attendeddelivery/pickup location (See Step 402), and the average time a parcelis stored at the attended delivery/pickup location (See Step 406) toestimate how much capacity the attended delivery/pickup location willhave in the future.

In a particular example, the system is configured to estimate thecurrent capacity of the attended delivery/pickup location using thetotal capacity of the attended delivery/pickup location (e.g., at Step402) and the volume of the one or more parcels currently stored at theattended delivery/pickup location (e.g., the system subtracts the volumeof the one or more parcels currently stored at the attendeddelivery/pickup location from total capacity of the attendeddelivery/pickup location (e.g, at Step 402)). Then, continuing with thisexample, the system is configured to use the average time a parcel isstored at the attended delivery/pickup location (e.g., at Step 406) toestimate how many of the parcels that are currently stored at theattended delivery/pickup location are likely to be picked up before thearrival of the one or more parcels associated with the parcel recipient(e.g., to estimate a future capacity of the attended delivery/pickuplocation).

In various embodiments, the system is configured to estimate thecapacity of the attended delivery/pickup location based at least in parton the number of parcels the attended delivery/pickup location isscheduled to receive (but has not received). In a particular example,the system estimates the capacity of the attended delivery/pickuplocation by estimating the current capacity of the attendeddelivery/pickup location based at least in part on the total capacity ofthe attended delivery/pickup location (e.g., at Step 402), the volume ofthe one or more parcels currently stored at the attended delivery/pickuplocation (e.g., at Step 402). Then, continuing with this example, thesystem is configured to estimate the future capacity of the attendedstorage location at a future point in time using the average time aparcel is stored at the attended delivery/pickup location (e.g., at Step406) and the estimated number of parcels the attended delivery/pickuplocation is scheduled to receive in the future (e.g., the systemestimates how many parcels will be received and how many parcels will bepicked up in a given time frame to estimate the capacity of the attendeddelivery/pickup location in the future).

In various embodiments, the system may be configured to take intoaccount holidays, vacation days, or any other day the attendeddelivery/pickup location may be closed in estimating the capacity of theattended delivery/pickup location. For example, the system may beconfigured to calculate the capacity of a particular attendeddelivery/pickup location to receive any packages on a holiday to bezero.

At Step 410, the system determines whether the attended delivery/pickuplocation will have sufficient capacity to receive the one or moreparcels associated with the parcel recipient. In a particular example,the system is configured to compare the estimated capacity (e.g., atStep 408) of the attended delivery/pickup location with the estimatedvolume of the one or more parcels associated with the parcel recipient(e.g., at Step 404). Continuing with this example, if the estimatedvolume of the one or more parcels (e.g., 1000 cubic inches) exceeds theestimated capacity of the attended delivery/pickup location (e.g., 500cubic inches) at the estimated time the one or more parcels are expectedto be delivered, the system will determine, in this example, that theattended delivery/pickup location will not have sufficient capacity toaccept the one or more parcels associated with the parcel recipient.

In various embodiments, the system is configured to determine whetherthe attended delivery/pickup location will have sufficient capacity toreceive the one or more parcels associated with the parcel recipientbased at least in part on a limitation on the estimated capacity of theattended delivery/pickup location (e.g., at Step 408). According to aparticular embodiment, the system is configured to determine that theattended delivery/pickup location will not have sufficient capacity toreceive the one or more parcels if the estimated capacity of theattended delivery/pickup location will be at or above a certain percentof the total capacity (as estimated at Step 408, for example). Thepercentage may be any suitable percentage of the total capacity, suchas: ninety percent, ninety-five percent, ninety-nine percent, etc.

In many embodiments, the system is configured to determine that theattended delivery/pickup location will not have sufficient capacity toreceive the one or more parcels if the estimated unused capacity of theattended delivery/pickup location (e.g., as expressed in volume ornumber of parcels) is less than the estimated volume of the one or moreparcels associated with the first parcel recipient (e.g., received atStep 404).

The system may be configured to determine whether the attendeddelivery/pickup location will have sufficient capacity to receive theone or more parcels associated with the parcel recipient at any suitabletime. In a particular embodiment, the system is configured to determinewhether the attended delivery/pickup location will have sufficientcapacity to receive the one or more parcels associated with the parcelrecipient at a time the parcel recipient orders one or more items to beshipped in the one or more parcels. In one or more embodiments, thesystem is configured to determine whether the attended delivery/pickuplocation will have sufficient capacity to receive the one or moreparcels associated with the parcel recipient at a time after the one ormore parcels have been scheduled to be shipped (e.g., one day before theone or more parcels are scheduled to be delivered to the attendeddelivery/pickup location, one or more hours before the one or moreparcels are scheduled to arrive at the attended delivery/pickuplocation).

At Step 412, the system, at least partially in response to determiningthat the attended delivery/pickup location will not have sufficientcapacity to receive the one or more parcels associated with the parcelrecipient, facilitates routing the one or more parcels associated withthe parcel recipient to an alternative delivery/pickup location.

The system may be configured to facilitate routing (e.g., directing) theone or more parcels in any suitable way. In various embodiments, thesystem is configured to facilitate routing the one or more parcels bytransmitting one or more messages to the parcel recipient notifying theparcel recipient that the attended delivery/pickup location is notavailable. In one or more embodiments, the system may be configuredfacilitate routing the one or more parcels by suggesting to the parcelrecipient another delivery/pickup location, such as the alternatedelivery/pickup location. In further embodiments, the system isconfigured to substantially automatically (e.g., automatically) routethe one or more parcels associated with the parcel recipient to apre-selected (e.g., by the parcel recipient) alternative delivery/pickuplocation.

In various embodiments, the system is configured to facilitate routingthe one or more parcels by communicating to a logistics company that istransporting the one or more parcels. In this embodiment, the system maybe configured to send a message to the logistics company (e.g., to oneor more servers associated with the logistics company) indicating thatthe attended delivery/pickup location will not accept the one or moreparcels due to the capacity of the attended delivery/pickup location.

At Step 414, the system, at least partially in response to determiningthat the attended delivery/pickup location will have sufficient capacityto receive the one or more parcels associated with the parcel recipient,facilitates routing (e.g., directing) the one or more parcels associatedwith the parcel recipient to the attended delivery/pickup location. In aparticular embodiment, the system may facilitate routing the one or moreparcels by reserving space at the attended delivery/pickup location. Inthis way, the attended delivery/pickup location will have space for theone or more parcels associated with the parcel recipient when the one ormore parcels are delivered to the attended delivery/pickup location.

J. Methods for Recommending Attended Delivery/Pickup Locations to Users

In various embodiments, the system may be adapted to recommendparticular attended delivery/pickup locations for the delivery of aparticular parcel. In particular embodiments, the system may be adaptedto automatically generate suitable recommendations based, at least inpart, on: (1) the distance of the attended delivery/pickup location froma location specified by the user; (2) the estimated current or futurecapacity of the attended delivery/pickup location to accept deliveries;(3) trends in activity associated with the particular attendeddelivery/pickup location (e.g., if an attended delivery/pickup locationexperiences an day-to-day increase in volume above a certain threshold,the system won't recommend the attended delivery/pickup location for apredetermined number of days); or (4) any other suitable factors. Afterthe system recommends one or more particular delivery/pickup locations,the user may either select one of the recommended attendeddelivery/pickup locations to receive the delivery, or specify anon-recommended attended delivery/pickup location to receive thedelivery.

K. Methods for Handling a Parcel that is Destined for an AttendedDelivery/Pickup Location that has No Additional Capacity

In some cases, a logistics system or other system may determine that aparticular parcel is en route to a particular attended delivery/pickuplocation that has inadequate capacity to accept the parcel. In suchcases, the system may, for example: (1) block the delivery of the parcelto the particular attended delivery/pickup location, re-route the parcelto an alternative attended delivery/pickup location, and inform theintended parcel recipient of the change; (2) hold the parcel for apredetermined period of time, deliver the parcel to the particularattended delivery/pickup location at a later time, and inform theintended recipient of the scheduling change; (3) deliver the parcel tothe recipient's home or place of business; or (4) handle the situationin any other suitable manner. The system may determine which of theabove approaches to take based at least in part, for example, on one ormore user-specified preferences.

L. Methods for Determining Alternative Attended Delivery/Pickup Location

In various situations, such as the situation described immediatelyabove, the system may re-route a parcel to an alternative attendeddelivery/pickup location. In such situations, the alternative attendeddelivery/pickup location may be identified based on, for example: (1)the distance of the alternative attended delivery/pickup location fromthe original, target attended delivery/pickup location; (2) the distanceof the alternative attended delivery/pickup location from the customer'sresidence or place of business; (3) the last attended delivery/pickuplocation used by the customer; or (4) a previous preference expressed bythe intended recipient of the parcel.

M. Methods for Allowing Customer to Reserve Space in an AttendedDelivery/Pickup Location

In certain embodiments, the system may be adapted to allow users toreserve space for a particular parcel at a particular attendeddelivery/pickup location so that delivery to the particular attendeddelivery/pickup location (rather than an alternative location) isguaranteed. The system may or may not charge the parcel recipient formaking such a reservation. In certain embodiments, the system providessuch reservations free of charge to those subscribing to a paid premiumlogistics service.

In various embodiments, the system is adapted to allow users to reserveone or more spaces (e.g., a block of spaces) at an attendeddelivery/pickup location. In particular embodiments, the system isadapted to allow users to reserves the one or more spaces at a timebefore any parcels are scheduled for delivery for the user at theattended delivery/pickup location where the user reserved the one ormore spaces. The user may, for example, reserve the one or more spaceson a particular day (e.g., or days) in the future. In variousembodiments, the ability to reserve attended delivery/pickup spaces inadvance may allow users to ensure that there will be space at theattended delivery/pickup location for a future order that the user isplanning, or for a future shipment that he user anticipates receiving.

In particular embodiments, the users reserving the space may includeindividuals, customers, manufacturers, corporations, etc. For example, acompany releasing a new product (e.g, Apple® releasing a new smartphone)may reserve one or more spaces at various attended delivery/pickuplocations for the release date of the product. The company may thenschedule shipment of the new product to each of the attendeddelivery/pickup locations in order to allow users to pick up the productordered by the customer or purchase the product directly from theattended delivery/pickup location on the release date. In this way,attended delivery/pickup locations may serve as temporary storefrontsfor companies who may, for example, wish to increase the availability oftheir product, or facilitate a more convenient purchase or pickup of theproduct by their customers.

N. Methods for Facilitating the Return of Items Using an AttendedDelivery/Pickup Location

Attended delivery/pickup locations may be configured, in someembodiments, to facilitate the return of previously purchased items to aretailer for a refund or exchange. For example, in particularembodiments, a representative at an attended delivery/pickup location(and/or a computer system associated with the attended delivery/pickuplocation) determines whether a particular item may be returned/exchangedand: (1) if the item may not be returned/exchanged, inform theindividual attempting to return the item that the item may not bereturned/exchanged; or (2) if the item may be returned/exchanged,facilitate the return/exchange of the item in accordance with termsspecified by the retailer to which the item is to be returned. In aparticular embodiment, the system may be adapted to: (1) read amachine-readable indicia (e.g., a UPC code, a transaction codeassociated with the sale of the item to the individual attempting toexchange the item, or other suitable item identifier) associated with anitem to be returned; and (2) use information derived from themachine-readable indicia to determine whether the item may bereturned/exchanged. In particular embodiments, the derived informationmay include a deadline for returning/exchanging the item. If an item iscurrently eligible to be returned or exchanged, the system mayoptionally determine when the user should receive either a refund forthe item or a substitute item and provide this information to the user.

In a particular embodiment in which the user is returning an item to aretail website by dropping the item at an attended delivery/pickuplocation, the system may be configured to provide a return label forplacing on a parcel containing the item that the user is returning. Invarious embodiments, the return label may expire at the end of aparticular return period (e.g., a period provided by the retail websitein which the user (e.g., customer) may return items to the retailwebsite in exchange for a full or partial refund). In particularembodiments, if the return label has not expired, the system mayfacilitate the shipment of the returned item from the attendeddelivery/pickup location to the retail website (e.g., a warehouse,storage facility, or processing facility associated with the retailwebsite) at no cost to the user. In various embodiments, the system, inresponse to determining that the return label has expired, mayfacilitate the shipment of the returned item from the attendeddelivery/pickup location to the retail website (e.g., a warehouse,storage facility, or processing facility associated with the retailwebsite) after charging the user a return fee. In other embodiments, ifthe return label has expired, the system may facilitate the shipment ofthe returned item from the attended delivery/pickup location to theretail website (e.g., a warehouse, storage facility, or processingfacility associated with the retail website) at no cost to the user; thesystem may then be configured to notify the retail website that thereturn period for the returned item has expired, and the retail websitemay charge the user for the return (e.g., deduct the cost of shippingthe returned item from any refund to which the user may be entitled).

In various embodiments, a computer system at each attendeddelivery/pickup location may be adapted to provide users with access toone or more checklists and/or questionnaires that may be used to makesure that all parts of a particular item are present before the item isreturned to a retailer for a refund or exchange. This may save theretailer time and money associated with replacing sub-parts of returneditems.

O. Methods for Facilitating the Pickup of Parcels or Other Items from anAttended Delivery/Pickup Location

Various techniques may be used to facilitate the pickup of parcels orother items from an attended delivery/pickup location. For example, auser may be provided with an electronic ID card or other device that maybe used to quickly identify the individual and any parcels that are tobe picked up by the individual at a particular attended delivery/pickuplocation. Similarly, the user may be provided with an application on theuser's mobile computing device that facilitates identification of theuser via near field communications, or one or more bar codes displayedon the screen of the mobile device. Such a bar code may alternatively beprinted (e.g., as a voucher) and presented to a representative of anattended delivery/pickup location to facilitate quick identification andpickup of one or more parcels stored at the attended delivery/pickuplocation.

In various embodiments, the system may be adapted to facilitate thepickup of a parcel by an individual other than the intended recipient ofthe parcel by, for example, having the intended recipient transfer theelectronic ID card (or a printed voucher generated by the system) toanother individual. The other individual may then present the electronicor physical ID card or voucher to a representative at the attendeddelivery/pickup location to verify that the individual is authorized topick up the parcel on the intended recipient's behalf. After therepresentative uses the system to verify the authenticity of theelectronic or physical ID card or voucher, the representative maytransfer the parcel to the individual.

In various embodiments, the electronic ID card discussed above may beadapted so that it is only valid when the electronic ID card (or adevice displaying the card) is located at a particular geographiclocation (e.g., at or near a particular GPS coordinate, or within aparticular Bluetooth network, or close enough to a particular computingdevice to communicate with the device using near field communications).

In various embodiments, the system may be adapted to create anelectronic token to verify that the user's computing device (and,therefore, presumably the user) was present at a location when a parcelwas picked up. This may serve as evidence that the parcel was picked upby the intended recipient rather than another individual.

P. Methods for Facilitating the Immediate Sale and Delivery of PopularItems from an e-Commerce Site

In particular embodiments, an attended delivery/pickup location maystock one or more items that sell frequently on an e-commerce web site(e.g., bestselling books, DVD's, or CD's). In particular embodiments,when a user of the e-commerce web site indicates that they wish topurchase such an item, the system may search the inventory of one ormore attended delivery/pickup locations that are geographically close tothe user (as determined by the user's mobile device, from informationprovided by the user, etc. . . . ) to determine whether the attendeddelivery/pickup locations have the item in stock. If so, the system mayinform the user that a nearby attended delivery/pickup location has theitem in stock, and provide the user with the option of paying for theitem online and then picking the item up (e.g., substantiallyimmediately on the same day) from the nearby attended delivery/pickuplocation.

In such cases, after the user purchases the item on the e-commerce site,the system may generate a physical or electronic receipt that the usermay use to retrieve the item from the identified attendeddelivery/pickup location. The system may also electronically notify theattended delivery/pickup location that the user has purchased the itemand request that the item be set aside for the user.

Q. Methods and Systems for Training Employees of an AttendedDelivery/Pickup Location

In particular embodiments, each attended delivery/pickup location may beprovided with a client computer that may be switched between an activemode (in which the client computer is adapted to facilitate the pickup,delivery, and/or tracking of parcels), and a training mode (in which theclient computer is adapted to train individuals how to use the system).In particular embodiments, when the client computer is in the trainingmode, the computer simulates the operation of the computer when thecomputer is in active mode and provides instructions on how to properlyoperate the computer.

R. Methods and Systems for Conducting a Survey at an AttendedDelivery/Pickup Location

In particular embodiments, when a user picks up a parcel at a particularattended delivery/pickup location, the user is presented with anelectronic survey of their experience at the attended delivery/pickuplocation. If the user rates the experience highly (e.g., 9-10 out of apossible 10), the system invites the user to go onto a social mediawebsite, such as Facebook, to provide comments and/or other feedback.This may help to expand the number of positive comments on the socialmedia website.

S. Provision of Customized Web Site for Each Attended Delivery/PickupLocation

In various embodiments, the system is adapted to provide a customizedwebsite for each attended delivery/pickup location. The website mayinclude a private portion that may only be accessed by individualsassociated with the particular attended delivery/pickup location. Thisprivate portion may display, for example, information regarding how muchthe attended delivery/pickup location has earned through delivery/pickupactivities and other relevant information.

The website may also include a public portion that allows the particularattended delivery/pickup location to advertise special offers, such asoffers for discounted merchandise. In particular embodiments, particularoffers may only if the user retrieves their one or more parcels from theattended delivery/pickup location before a particular location.

T. Methods for Enabling Users to Define Attended Delivery/PickupLocation Attributes

In particular embodiments, the system is adapted to allow users of thesystem to define and change various attributes associated with aparticular attended delivery/pickup location. Particular attributeswhich a user may define include, for example, the hours of operation ofthe attended delivery/pickup location. For example, a user may definehours of operation based at least in part on the hours of operation ofthe retail store at which the attended delivery/pickup location islocated. In various embodiments, users may define hours of operationbased on any other suitable factor and may change hours of operation forany suitable reason (e.g., based at least in part on or due to staffavailability to man the attended delivery/pickup location, based atleast in part on holidays or holiday schedules, etc.).

In other embodiments, users may define which particular items may bedelivered to and/or temporarily stored at the attended delivery/pickuplocation. For example, a user may define an attended delivery/pickuplocation such that the attended delivery/pickup location may only accepta particular model of a new mobile computing device. In particularembodiments, the system may be configured to limit accepted items toallowed items by using one or more stock-keeping units (e.g., SKUs)associated with the allowed items. In other embodiments, the system mayensure that only allowed items are accepted by the attendeddelivery/pickup location using any other suitable technique (e.g., byscanning a barcode associated with an item when it is presented to theattended delivery/pickup location, etc.)

In particular embodiments the system may be configured to allow a userto define any other attribute associated with the attendeddelivery/pickup location. In various embodiments, the system may beconfigured to receive a listing of one or more users who are authorizedto define and/or change the various attributes associated with theattended delivery/pickup location. Authorized users may include, forexample, the owner of the attended delivery/pickup location, the ownerof the retail store in which the attended delivery/pickup location islocated, an authorized manager or employee of the attendeddelivery/pickup location or the retail store with which the attendeddelivery/pickup location is associated, an authorized representative ofa logistics company associated with facilitating delivery and/or pickupof items to or from the attended delivery/pickup location, etc.

U. Methods for Facilitating Substantially Anonymous Delivery to andPickup from an Attended Delivery/Pickup Location

In particular embodiments, the system is adapted to enable a user torequest delivery of one or more items to an attended delivery/pickuplocation substantially anonymously. As a particular example, a user mayorder one or more items from an online retailer for delivery to aparticular attended delivery/pickup location. In various embodiments,the system may enable the user to complete a transaction with the onlineretailer for the item as a guest (e.g., without logging into an accountassociated with the user or the online retailer). The user may thenrequest, as part of the transaction, that the one or more items bedelivered to an attended delivery/pickup location. In particularembodiments, the system may be configured to facilitate delivery of theone or more items to the attended delivery/pickup location withoutassociating a name or other identifying characteristic of the user withthe one or more items.

The system may, in various embodiments, assign an alias to the user(e.g., such as a unique identifying string of characters, etc.) In otherembodiments, the system may be configured to associate a confirmationnumber with the shipment of the one or more items. In variousembodiments, the system may be adapted to require the user to presentsomething other than a proof of identification of the user when the usergoes to the attended delivery/pickup location to pick up the one or moreitems. For example, the system may require the user to present theconfirmation number or alias in order to retrieve the one or more items,the system may require the user to show an e-mail, text message, orother suitable confirmation message confirming that the user placed theorder for the one or more items, etc. In other embodiments, the systemmay be configured to require confirmation by a user picking up the oneor more items from the attended delivery/pickup location that the userplaced the order for the one or more items in any other suitable manner(e.g., a manner in which the user's anonymity is substantiallymaintained).

V. Systems for Determining Suitability of Locations as AttendedDelivery/Pickup Locations

In various embodiments, the system is configured to determine asuitability of a particular location to serve as a location for anattended delivery/pickup location. In particular embodiments, thedetermination is based on, for example: (1) a number of returns thatoccur at the particular location (e.g., where the particular location isa retail location); (2) a number of complaints about the location (e.g.,complaints from customers of a business at the location); (3) geographicand demographic data associated with the particular location; (4) thirdparty commercially available data (e.g., a volume of sales at a businessassociated with the particular location, an average number of customersthat patronize a business associated with the particular location,etc.); and (5) any other suitable factor.

In particular embodiments, determination of suitability for a locationas an attended delivery/pickup location is determined using any suitabletechnique used by retailers or other businesses when selecting asuitable location to open a particular business. In other embodiments,the determination is based at least in part on logistics data (e.g.,based at least in part on particular shipping routes utilized bylogistics companies, etc.). In other embodiments, the determination maybe based on any suitable combination of the factors discussed above, orany other factors.

W. Flexible Activation of Alternative Delivery/Pickup Locations

In various embodiments, the system is adapted to allow a user to quicklyactivate and/or deactivate one or more attended delivery/pickuplocations, and/or to create one or more time-limited attendeddelivery/pickup locations (e.g., alternative delivery/pickup locationsthat are set to exist for only a pre-determined amount of time). In aparticular embodiment, the system is adapted to allow a user to set up aparticular attended delivery/pickup location by: (1) specifying theattended delivery/pickup location; (2) specifying a start time for theattended delivery/pickup location to be in existence; and (3) specifyingan end time for the attended delivery/pickup location to be inexistence. In various embodiments, the start time is selected to occurat about the beginning of a particular event (e.g., a particularconcert, party, sporting event, or other event), and the end time isselected to occur at about the end of the particular event. Inparticular embodiments, the event may be staffed by one or moreindividuals associated with the particular event.

X. Regularly Scheduled Pickups

In various embodiments, the system is adapted to coordinate pickups, ona regular basis (e.g., daily, weekly, etc. . . . ) from a particularlocation. Such pickups may be made by one or more logistics providersthat service attended delivery/pickup locations. This service may beimplemented for a fee, or for no charge.

In particular embodiments, the system may be adapted to allowindividuals to issue a real-time pickup request to have a parcel pickedup at a particular location. In particular embodiments, the system maybe adapted to automatically select a common carrier from a plurality ofcommon carriers to handle the requested parcel pickup. The system may dothis, for example, by: (1) informing a plurality of common carriers ofthe request; (2) accepting one or more respective bid prices from eachof the plurality of common carriers for which the respective commoncarriers would be willing to handle the requested parcel pickup; (3)based, at least in part, on the respective bid prices, selecting aparticular one of the plurality of common carriers to handle therequest; and (4) in response to selecting the particular common carrier,facilitating the pickup of the parcel by the particular common carrier.

Y. Automatic Tariff Changes

In various embodiments, the system is adapted to calculate the amountthat a particular individual will pay in parcel shipping charges in away that is customized for the situation at hand. For example, theshipping charge associated with shipping a parcel from a particularon-line retailer to an individual may be based, at least in part, on:(1) the current availability and/or capacity of an attendeddelivery/pickup location to which the parcel is to be delivered; (2) thefrequency of the individual's purchasing and/or shipment activity (e.g.,frequent purchasers and/or shippers may receive a discount); (3) thecarrier handling the delivery; (4) loyalty to a particular attendeddelivery/pickup location; (5) loyalty to the carrier handling thedelivery; and/or (6) total frequency of shipments to the attendeddelivery/pickup location on the individual's behalf In particularembodiments, the system may be customizable by any suitable party (e.g.,the owner of an attended delivery/pickup location) or any combination ofsuitable parties to calculate customized shipping rates based on anycombination of any suitable factors, such as the factors listed above.

Z. Exemplary Delivery Configurations

In particular embodiments, the system may be adapted to facilitate thedelivery of one or more parcels between various different types oflocations. For example, the system may be adapted to facilitate thedelivery of one or more parcels from: (1) an attended delivery/pickuplocation to an individual's home; (2) an attended delivery/pickuplocation to another attended delivery/pickup location; (3) anindividual's home to an attended delivery/pickup location; and (4) afirst individual's home to a second individual's home.

Illustrative Example of Delivery to a Suggested Delivery/Pickup Location

FIG. 4 depicts an exemplary transportation diagram that generallyillustrates the delivery of a parcel 500 directly to an attendeddelivery/pickup location 512, 514, 516. As may be understood from thisfigure, parcel recipients may elect to have parcels delivered directlyto attended delivery/pickup locations 512, 514, 516 rather than to otherlocations that are more closely associated with the parcel recipient(e.g., the parcel recipient's home or workplace). In variousembodiments, a system for coordinating the delivery of parcels toattended delivery/pickup locations may provide each potential parcelrecipient with a selection of attended delivery/pickup locations fromwhich the parcel recipient may select one or more attendeddelivery/pickup locations to have their inbound parcels delivered to.For example, the system may present the user with a plurality ofattended delivery/pickup locations (e.g., such as delivery/pickuplocations 512, 514, 516). These attended delivery/pickup locations mayinclude attended delivery/pickup locations that are located near (e.g.,within a particular distance of) one or more locations such as theparcel recipient's home, the parcel recipient's place of work, or anyother location that is closely associated with the parcel recipient.

For example, a particular attended delivery/pickup location 512 may be agas station located half a mile from the user's workplace 513. Anotherattended delivery/pickup location 514 may be a grocery store threeblocks from the user's apartment 515. Yet another attendeddelivery/pickup location 516 may include a flower shop next door to agymnasium 517 of which the user is a member. As may be understood fromFIG. 5, a common carrier (e.g., or other logistics company) may deliverparcels directly to such attended delivery/pickup locations rather thanto the locations that are more closely associated with the parcelrecipient 513, 515, 517.

As noted above, delivering to attended delivery/pickup locations ratherthan particular addresses (e.g., such as home addresses) more closelyassociated with particular parcel recipient may be beneficial for commoncarriers in that it may reduce the total number of addresses that thecommon carrier may need to deliver parcels to in a particular day. Thisprocess may also be advantageous to parcel recipients because it mayassure that their parcel is delivered to a convenient, attendedlocation. This may, for example, eliminate the risk associated withhaving the common carrier leave the parcel outside the parcelrecipient's home, or with having the parcel misplaced or improperlyrouted within the parcel recipient's workplace. In particularembodiments, the system is configured to deliver a parcel to whicheverattended delivery/pickup location (e.g., attended delivery/pickuplocation 512, 514, or 516) the user selects.

Illustrative Example of Determination of the Capacity of an AttendedDelivery/Pickup Location

In a particular example, a parcel recipient (e.g., a user) purchases anitem from an online retailer. As part of the check-out process, in thisexample, the parcel recipient is prompted to enter (or select) alocation for the delivery of a parcel that will contain the item.Continuing with this example, the parcel recipient selects a particularattended delivery/pickup location for the delivery of the parcel. Thesystem, in this example, retrieves the volume of the parcel to bedelivered (e.g., 100 cubic inches) and stored information about theparticular attended delivery/pickup location. The information about theparticular attended delivery/pickup location may include, in thisexample, the total capacity the particular attended delivery/pickuplocation has to store parcels (e.g., 1,000 cubic inches) and the currentvolume of stored parcels (e.g., 950 cubic inches).

The system, continuing with this example, determines whether theparticular attended delivery/pickup location has the capacity to acceptand store the parcel for the user by taking the total capacity of theparticular attended delivery/pickup location minus the current volume ofstored parcels minus the volume of the parcel to be delivered for theparcel recipient (e.g., 1,000 cubic inches minus 950 cubic inches minus100 cubic inches equals negative 50 cubic inches). The system then, inthis example, upon determining that the particular attendeddelivery/pickup location does not have capacity to store the parcel(negative 50 indicates not enough capacity to store the parcel),notifies the user to choose another attended delivery/pickup location.

CONCLUSION

Many modifications and other embodiments of the present systems andmethods will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which thispresent systems and methods pertains having the benefit of the teachingspresented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings.While examples discussed above cover the use of the present systems andmethods in the context of attended delivery/pickup locations (e.g.,attended retail delivery/pickup locations), the present systems andmethods may be used in any other suitable context, such as within thecontext of: 1) unattended delivery/pickup locations; 2) attendeddelivery-only locations; 3) attended pickup-only location; 4) unattendeddelivery-only locations; and 5) unattended pickup-only locations.Therefore, it is to be understood that the present systems and methodsis not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed and thatmodifications and other embodiments are intended to be included withinthe scope of the appended claims. Although specific terms are employedherein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and notfor the purposes of limitation.

What is claimed is:
 1. A computer system comprising: at least oneprocessor, wherein the computer system is configured for: (A) receivingcapacity information associated with a first attended delivery/pickuplocation, wherein: i) the first attended delivery/pickup locationcomprises: 1) a location, other than a residence or employer associatedwith a first parcel recipient; and 2) a storage area comprising a volumefor storing at least one accepted parcel; and ii) the capacityinformation comprises a total volume of the storage area for storing oneor more accepted parcels; (B) determining an estimated average storagetime for an average parcel stored at the first attended delivery/pickuplocation; (C) receiving first delivery information associated with oneor more parcels associated with the first parcel recipient, wherein thefirst delivery information comprises: i) a first estimated time ofdelivery associated with the one or more parcels associated with thefirst parcel recipient; and ii) a first indication of the first parcelrecipient to pick up the one or more parcels at the first attendeddelivery/pickup location; (D) estimating the capacity of the firstattended delivery/pickup location at the estimated time of delivery ofthe one or more parcels based at least in part on: i) the capacityinformation associated with the first attended delivery/pickup location;and ii) the estimated storage time for the average parcel stored at thefirst attended delivery/pickup location; (E) determining whether thefirst attended delivery/pickup location will have sufficient capacity toreceive the one or more parcels associated with the first parcelrecipient at the estimated time of delivery based at least in part theestimated capacity of the first attended delivery/pickup location; and(F) at least partially in response to determining that the firstattended delivery/pickup location will not have sufficient capacity toreceive the one or more parcels associated with the first parcelrecipient at the estimated time of delivery, facilitating routing theone or more parcels associated with the first parcel recipient to afirst alternate attended delivery/pickup location, wherein: i) the firstalternate attended delivery/pickup location comprises an alternateattended delivery/pickup location that is different than the firstattended delivery/pickup location; and ii) the first alternate attendeddelivery/pickup location and the first attended delivery/pickup locationare within a network of attended delivery/pickup locations.
 2. Thecomputer system of claim 1, wherein: (A) the first delivery informationfurther comprises one or more characteristics of the one or more parcelsassociated with the first parcel recipient; and (B) determining whetherthe first attended delivery/pickup location will have sufficientcapacity to receive the one or more parcels associated with the firstparcel recipient at the estimated time of delivery is further at leastpartially based on the one or more characteristics of the one or moreparcels associated with the first parcel recipient.
 3. The computersystem of claim 3, wherein the one or more characteristics of the one ormore parcels associated with the first parcel recipient arecharacteristics selected from the group consisting of: (A) an estimatedvolume of the one or more parcels; (B) an estimated density of the oneor more parcels; (C) an estimated weight of the one or more parcels; and(D) estimated dimensions of the one or more parcels.
 4. The computersystem of claim 2, wherein the computer system is further configuredfor, at least partially in response to determining that the particulardelivery/pickup location will have sufficient capacity to receive theone or more parcels associated with the first parcel recipient at theestimated time of delivery, facilitating routing the one or more parcelsassociated with the first parcel recipient to the first attendeddelivery/pickup location.
 5. The computer system of claim 4, wherein thecomputer system is further configured for: (A) receiving second deliveryinformation associated with one or more parcels associated with a secondparcel recipient, wherein the delivery information comprises: i) asecond estimated time of delivery associated with the one or moreparcels associated with the second parcel recipient; ii) one or morecharacteristics of the one or more parcels associated with the secondparcel recipient; and iii) an indication of the second parcel recipientto pick up the one or more parcels at the first attended delivery/pickuplocation; (B) estimating the capacity of the first attendeddelivery/pickup location at the second estimated time of deliveryassociated with the one or more parcels associated with the secondparcel recipient based at least in part on: i) the capacity informationassociated with the first attended delivery/pickup location; ii) theestimated storage time for the average parcel stored at the firstattended delivery/pickup location; and iii) the one or morecharacteristics of the one or more parcels associated with the firstparcel recipient; (C) determining whether the first attendeddelivery/pickup location will have sufficient capacity to receive theone or more parcels associated with the second parcel recipient at thesecond estimated time of delivery based at least in part on estimatingthe capacity of the first delivery/pickup location; and (D) at leastpartially in response to determining that the particular delivery/pickuplocation will not have sufficient capacity to receive the one or moreparcels associated with the second parcel recipient at the secondestimated time of delivery, facilitating routing the one or more parcelsassociated with the second parcel recipient to a second alternativeattended delivery/pickup location.
 6. The computer system of claim 5,wherein the first alternative attended delivery/pickup location and thesecond attended delivery/pickup location are a particular attendeddelivery/pickup location.
 7. The computer system of claim 1, wherein thecapacity information associated with the first attended delivery/pickuplocation further comprises an indication of a volume of one or moreaccepted parcels expected to be delivered to the first attendeddelivery/pickup location approximately before the first estimated timeof delivery of the one or more parcels associated with the first parcelrecipient.
 8. The computer system of claim 7, wherein determiningwhether the first attended delivery/pickup location will have sufficientcapacity to receive the one or more parcels associated with the firstparcel recipient at the estimated time of delivery comprises determiningwhether the estimated capacity will be at or about a percentage of thevolume of the storage area at the first estimated time of delivery ofthe one or more parcels associated with the first parcel recipient. 9.The computer system of claim 8, wherein the percentage of the volume isabout ninety-five percent.
 10. The computer system of claim 8, whereinthe estimated average storage time for the average parcel stored at thefirst attended delivery/pickup location is at least partially based on:(A) a number of parcels previously delivered to the first attendeddelivery/pickup location associated with the first parcel recipient; and(B) an average storage time for the number of parcels previouslydelivered to the first attended delivery/pickup location associated withthe first parcel recipient.
 11. The computer system of claim 8, whereinthe estimated average storage time for the average parcel stored at thefirst attended delivery/pickup location is at least partially based on:(A) a number of parcels previously delivered to the first attendeddelivery/pickup location for a predetermined period of time; and (B) anaverage storage time for the number of parcels previously delivered tothe first attended delivery/pickup location for the predetermined periodof time.
 12. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the attendeddelivery/pickup location is a location selected from the groupconsisting of: (A) a gas station; (B) a convenience store; (C) a retaillocation; and (D) a kiosk at a mall.
 13. The computer system of claim 1,wherein facilitating routing the one or more parcels associated with thefirst parcel recipient to a first alternative attended delivery/pickuplocation comprises transmitting a message to the first parcel recipientsuggesting requesting delivery to the first alternate attendeddelivery/pickup location.
 14. The computer system of claim 1, whereinfacilitating routing the one or more parcels associated with the firstparcel recipient to a first alternative attended delivery/pickuplocation comprises transmitting a notification to a logistics companyindicating that the first attended delivery/pickup location will notreceive the one or more parcels associated with the first parcelrecipient.
 15. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storingcomputer executable instructions for: (A) receiving a request to haveone or more parcels associated with a particular parcel recipient of aplurality of parcel recipients delivered to a particular attendeddelivery/pickup location, wherein: i) the particular attendeddelivery/pickup location comprises an area for storing one or moreparcels for pickup by the plurality of parcel recipients; ii) theparticular attended delivery/pickup location is not a residence oremployer associated with the particular parcel recipient; and iii) therequest to have the one or more parcels delivered to the particularattended delivery/pickup location comprises: a) an estimated deliverytime of the one or more parcels; and b) an estimated volume of the oneor more parcels; (B) receiving capacity information associated with theparticular attended delivery/pickup location, wherein the capacityinformation comprises: i) a maximum capacity of the area for acceptingone or more parcels for pickup; ii) a number of one or more parcelscurrently stored at the particular attended delivery/pickup location;and iii) an average time one or more parcels are stored at the storagearea; (C) at least partially in response to receiving the request forhaving the one or more parcels associated the particular parcelrecipient delivered to the particular attended delivery/pickup location,determining whether the particular attended delivery/pickup locationwill accept the one or more parcels associated with the particularparcel recipient based at least in part on: i) the estimated volume ofthe one or more parcels; ii) the estimated delivery time of the one ormore parcels; iii) the maximum capacity of the area for accepting one ormore parcels for pickup; iv) the number of one or more parcels currentlystored at the particular attended delivery/pickup location; and v) theaverage time one or more parcels are stored at the storage area; and (D)at least partially in response to determining that the particularattended delivery/pickup location will not accept the one or moreparcels associated with the particular parcel recipient, facilitatingdirecting the one or more parcels to a predetermined alternativeattended delivery/pickup location.
 16. The non-transitorycomputer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein determining whether theparticular attended delivery/pickup location will accept the one or moreparcels associated with the particular parcel recipient is further atleast partially based on an estimated number of parcels the particularattended delivery/pickup location has committed to accepting, but hasnot yet received.
 17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium ofclaim 16, wherein the maximum capacity of the area for accepting one ormore parcel for pickup is at least partially based on the volume of thearea for storing the one or more parcels for pickup from the pluralityof parcel recipients.
 18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium ofclaim 17, wherein determining whether the particular attendeddelivery/pickup location will accept the one or more parcels associatedwith the particular parcel recipient comprises estimating the volumeavailable at the particular attended delivery/pickup location to storethe one or more parcels associated with the particular parcel recipientat the estimated delivery time of the one or more parcels associatedwith the parcel recipient.
 19. The non-transitory computer-readablemedium of claim 18, wherein determining whether the particular attendeddelivery/pickup location will accept the one or more parcels associatedwith the particular parcel recipient comprises determining whether thevolume available to store one or more parcels of the particular attendeddelivery/pickup location will be about ninety-five percent of the totalvolume of the area at the estimated delivery time of the one or moreparcels associated with the parcel recipient.
 20. A computer-implementedmethod, comprising: (A) receiving, by at least one processor, capacityinformation associated with each of a plurality of attendeddelivery/pickup locations, wherein the attended delivery/pickuplocations comprise businesses not primarily for receiving parcels; (B)receiving, by at least one processor, an estimated storage time for anaverage parcel for each of the plurality of attended delivery/pickuplocations, wherein the estimated storage time for the average parcel foreach of the plurality of attended delivery/pickup locations is based atleast in part on: i) a number of parcels delivered to the plurality ofattended delivery/pickup locations for a predetermined period of time;and ii) an average storage time for the number of parcels delivered tothe plurality of delivery/pickup locations for the predetermined periodof time; (C) receiving, by at least one processor, delivery informationassociated with one or more parcels associated with a particular parcelrecipient, wherein the delivery information comprises: i) an estimatedtime of delivery; ii) an estimated volume of the one or more parcels;and iii) an indication of a particular attended delivery/pickup locationof the plurality of attended delivery/pickup locations in which theparticular parcel recipient desires to pick up the one or more parcels;(D) calculating, by at least one processor, an approximate capacity ofthe particular delivery/pickup location at the estimated time ofdelivery of the one or more parcels based at least in part on: i) thecapacity information associated with the particular attendeddelivery/pickup location; ii) the estimated storage time for the averageparcel for the particular attended delivery/pickup location; and (E)determining, by at least one processor, whether the particulardelivery/pickup location will have sufficient capacity to receive theone or more parcels associated with the particular parcel recipient atthe estimated time of delivery based at least in part on estimating thecapacity of the particular delivery/pickup location; and (F) at leastpartially in response to determining that the particular delivery/pickuplocation will not have sufficient capacity of receive the one or moreparcels associated with the particular parcel recipient at the estimatedtime of delivery, facilitating routing the one or more parcelsassociated with the particular parcel recipient to an alternativeattended delivery/pickup location of the plurality of attendeddelivery/pickup locations.